Beyond the Apocalypse
Chapter 242: Canvas Stronghold (II)

Chapter 242: Canvas Stronghold (II)

The contrast between the forces of Canvas Stronghold and those of Trigun City was stark. While the troops of Trigun City led by the 19 Bloodline Soldiers were fierce, battle-hardened warriors driven by raw aggression and the thrill of combat, whose sole purpose was to kill demons and grow stronger, those in Canvas City were disciplined, efficient, and structured, all of them working as a single mind.

Stating which force was better was a pointless task. It was true that the 19 Bloodline Soldiers’ Battalion in Trigun City had generated more Champions, as their soldiers had actively sought out and engaged in combat with demonic hordes, gaining strength and Origin Force through their victories.

However, Anglius’s forces focused on rescuing civilians and securing territory, often facing human adversaries that did not provide the same opportunities for growth. They were no less formidable than the soldiers of Trigun City, and their lower levels were a result of their focus on expanding the kingdom’s reach and securing strategic locations instead of focusing on their own personal power.

Vlad noted these distinctions as the A.I. Chip fed him data on the soldiers’ capabilities. There were only 37 Champions among the Canvas Stronghold forces, but Vlad knew this battalion’s value lay not only in individual strength but in their ability to work as a cohesive unit.

One cannot expand a kingdom by simply killing enemies and taking land. You must secure the new territories and bring order to them. Grand Marshal Anglius and these hundreds of soldiers were the backbone of the Xaos Kingdom’s expansion efforts—a stabilizing force.

It did not take long for Grand Marshal Anglius and his soldiers to adopt a military stance outside the Canvas Stronghold. They all gazed at the massive dark crow in the sky, their eyes burning with awe and admiration, as they had been informed by Overlord about the arrival of their King.

As the dark crow descended, Vlad chose not to display a grandiose show of brute power, as he had in Trigun City by diving into the ground from hundreds of meters in the sky. Instead, he exuded an aura of calm authority, projecting a kingly presence that commanded respect. The soldiers, well-versed in discipline and protocol, remained steady and focused as the demon summon landed, their eyes fixed on Vlad with a mixture of awe and reverence.

"Hail King Vlad!" Grand Marshal Anglius’s voice boomed across the field, and the soldiers echoed his words in unison, their voices resonating like a powerful wave that seemed to ripple through the air. The sheer force of their collective shout was enough to make the ground tremble, showing just how intense and powerful the emotion behind those words was.

The civilians within the base, caught off guard by the sudden assembly of troops, turned their attention toward the entrance as they heard that shout. While these people from Canvas City had never seen the Xaos King, many had heard stories of the enigmatic leader, with the tales spun by soldiers that painted him as a figure of almost mythical proportions.

Many of the civilians could not help but quietly make their way to the entrance of the Canvas Stronghold. None of them dared to interfere with the military forces, and they silently gazed at the man on top of that massive demonic black creature.

Vlad surveyed the scene, his gaze sweeping over the assembled soldiers and civilians. As he prepared to address the forces of Canvas City, he felt a deep sense of responsibility and purpose. Unlike the 19 Bloodline Soldiers’ battalion, these people did not need calls for battle or displays of brute might, but a sense of purpose—that their work to bring forth a semblance of civilization to the apocalyptic world was the right path.

A smile appeared on Vlad’s face as he stood at the forefront of the assembled forces, his presence commanding the attention of every soldier and civilian in the base, his aura flowing in all directions and bringing a sense of purpose and peace.

"Soldiers of the Xaos Kingdom," Vlad began, his voice clear and resonant, carrying across the field with the authority of a leader whom everybody could follow. "It fills me with pride to stand before you today, to witness the strength and discipline that define this formidable force. You have worked tirelessly to establish this stronghold, from which more than just armies will rise. This place will be known in the future as a center of organization, spreading in all directions, giving justice and safety to those who need it most."

Grand Marshal Anglius and the hundreds of soldiers behind him all showed expressions of pure emotion and awe as they heard those words. They had worked day and night, strengthening their position and preparing for future expansion.

It was not an exciting task like hunting down demonic hordes, and it required a lot of work and effort, pushing them daily to the brink of exhaustion, so the recognition of their work greatly elevated their spirits and motivated them to move forward.

Vlad allowed the soldiers to bask in his words, their spirits rising before carrying on. "I have come bearing a gift, a tool to enhance your strength and amplify your potential—a new system of power that will allow you to become even more formidable warriors."

Immediately, excitement appeared in the eyes of the soldiers as they heard those words. The main purpose of these forces was expansion, which required power, and they had fought a great number of times to achieve their current accomplishments, so greater strength was something they all desired.

"The gift I bring will allow our kingdom to turn the tables on the demons from Abyss. They will no longer be our enemies; they will become our prey. We will use those creatures that dare to invade our homes as batteries, using them to charge our bodies with strength." Vlad’s voice carried powerful intent and momentum, drilling excitement into everybody’s heart, but he did not make a demonstration or give details about the Demon Soul Master Strength System.

Many civilians were watching, and the idea of sealing a demonic soul inside one’s body might cause an uproar among some of them, so it was better to leave it for later. Besides, Vlad would only help those that became Champions, since Overlord would take care of the others.